A few months ago I shared my bedframe makeover with you. Many of you commented on how pretty the "wallpaper" behind the bed was. Well, I have a confession to make. It wasn't wallpaper at all.

Today I'm going to share with you what that thing behind the bed was and how I was able to easily warm up a room with fabric.
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This is what the room had looked like for many years. It's a spare room but also pretty stark. The "headboard" is actually a piece of plywood. I had wrapped it with an old comforter and stapled that on. And then I had covered it with the plaid fabric. It was that simple.

​I did this to give the room some much needed color and also add a bit of warmth. And at the time I was trying to add cohesiveness to the beds which were not a set.

​And no, painting the room was not an option. Usually my go-to solution is paint but we had painted the room and it was clean. No reason to go painting it again. I have lots of other things to paint.

Here is a photo of the room a few days ago. The pretty fabric you saw on the first photo is in fact a duvet cover. I had used it for staging only. Shhh, I'm giving blogger secrets away. But in reality, it had no business being there.

​Once I had painted the bed frame and the dresser, it no longer looked right. The red clashed with the soft green. I think the only time I could get away with this combination was at Christmastime.

My solution was to change the cover of the headboard.

But that was the hardest part for me. I searched through my fabric stash and found this pretty floral but it was the wrong green.

I even tested this geometric which I had used to stage the fabulous Ikea desk makeover. However it was too bold for a bedroom. No one would get any rest with those vivid colors?
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And then it clicked! Back when I first started blogging, I had made a wall hanging using a pretty fabric to place over my bed. You see, here in earthquake prone Greece we have to be careful what we put on the walls over the beds. I found some of the fabric but I didn't have enough. Not to worry, I covered the whole piece with a neutral wool fabric, of which I had plenty.
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Here you can see that I just stapled it in a haphazard way over the red plaid. No one will know what goes on in the back.
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Like I said, I didn't have enough of the fabric to cover the whole piece so I just draped it, making sure to center it. A few staples in the back and a couple on the bottom front and I was done.
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And this is how it looks in the bedroom.
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Here you can see how nice it looks next to the green furniture.

It has a calming effect in the bedroom.
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And you know me, if I get bored with it, I can just switch it out with another piece of fabric. Just like I will do with those striped curtains.
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It even looks great next to the wooden chair.
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And there you have it. A simple and easy way to add color and warm up a room with fabric, without having to paint it. Did I pick the right fabric or were the other selections better?

What is your go to solution when you want to add color to a room?

If you like what you see, share it with your friends, or save it on Pinterest. Above is a Pinterest worthy image!

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Mary what a clever and frugal way to add warmth to that wall and your guest bedroom! It makes a huge difference and looks so welcoming! I always wanted to try making a headboard, although our bedroom is kind of small for one and now we got a bed with a high frame, but it's still on the list and so easy too, right? Have a lovely Monday!

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Mary

4/3/2017 07:10:11 am

Katrin you know I'm all about frugal and using up what I have at home. This was a simple way to add some interest into the room. And it's not even a headboard! The bed headboard was so small it would not have made the impact that this giant thing does. And yes, it's super easy!

Dear Mary,
I love the fabric you've put up on the headboard - just my cup of tea actually. Such a pitty you didn't have any more left. Though it looks great with the original headboard showing at the sides.
We cannot put anything above our bed as it's right underneath the pitch of the roof - which is a pitty. Whilst still living alone with the boys I had the most beautiful girlish bedroom with a board above my bed, full with pretty little things a girl cannot do without (Tiffany-ish lamp, frame with Mary Kay cross stitch, jewellery box with painted roses on the surface, a little vase with silk roses,...) - things I had missed during my first marriage. Luckily W doesn't mind my dresser looking pretty much as mentioned above - think he loves my spleens (just think of my obsession for crochet)...
Have a lovely week,
Marjan

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Mary

4/3/2017 07:13:19 am

Marjan, silly me I had used it years ago to make the wall hanging. Because we can never be too careful here in Greece when it comes to earthquakes.

I'm glad that your dresser is full of all your pretty things. It's these little prettys that make our lives a bit more joyful.

Oh Wow!!!! That's such an ingenious idea Mary. Just brilliant and if I may, I think you chose the right fabric. The paisley print and the colors are the perfect backdrop for your gorgeous bed. I really love what you've done

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Mary

4/3/2017 07:14:25 am

Thank you for the vote of confidence Michelle. I drove the family crazy trying to pick a fabric. I can be such a pain when having to choose something!

Well, good for you -- first, for being honest about it and second, for using such a cute and clever technique to warm up the wall. (And it does, you know!). Very smart!

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Mary

4/3/2017 02:18:23 pm

I need to be honest Jeanie. Our homes are far from perfect and we wouldn't want them to be anyway. We have people living here. I always try to make things that anyone can make regardless of skill level or equipment. Mainly because I don't have any of those. Just my ideas. Thank you.

What a brilliant idea Mary! You always come up with brilliant yet frugal ideas that look great. I love the color of the frame and the change that you made with the fabric on the headboard looks so pretty. It goes perfectly with the paint color, and I love the pattern.

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Mary

4/3/2017 02:22:43 pm

This fabric is one of my favorites. It has enough of a pattern to not be boring but the colors give off a relaxed calm vibe.

All I can say here is 'Mary strikes again!' You are such a creative gal who really likes to think outside the box - love that about you. And this project is another example of this. I think the fabric pattern is just spot on and it looks so lovely against that pretty bed frame :)

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Mary

4/3/2017 02:31:13 pm

Jelica the truth is that necessity is the mother of invention. I only do what I have to in order to find frugal solutions and of course easy is always welcome.

You're right. The new fabric does warm up the room. It goes very nicely with the green paint on the bed, and I think the neutral wool fabric makes the perfect background. This was a creative way to refresh your guest room with materials from your stash.

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Mary

4/3/2017 02:36:50 pm

Exactly Carol. Even if there is no need for frugality, it is good to use what we have if we are not getting rid of it. I have collected too much stuff and seriously need to use it or get rid of it. It's time to declutter.

What a lovely idea and it will not break the Bank.I am going to steal it for me.Your fabrics are lovely,wool is beautiful as is the cotton.Great work,Mary

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Mary

4/7/2017 12:04:30 pm

Mary I am all about being frugal. I think the most important thing we can have is inspiration and ideas. Everything else can be shopped at home or at the very least without breaking the bank as you say. Thank you for your sweet comment.

Mary, I love seeing the process that you went through in the room. It's cool to see that not everyone comes to the perfect look on the first time. I know that I don't. Love the tips and tricks to get the look and the stripes, green finish and the floral look perfect together.

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Mary

4/7/2017 01:44:16 pm

Nikki thanks. I don't know about the stripes but for now they will have to be tolerated.

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Laurie

4/4/2017 02:26:26 pm

Mary, Pretty fabric. Your right the furniture is a perfect compliment to the fabric and visa versa! Great way to add a pop of color! Great to see you at Brag About It! Have a wonderful week!

Good Afternoon Mary, I do understand how careful you have to be, living in Greece where you experience earthquakes as it was the same when we lived in Cyprus.
What a brilliant idea. The material really changed the look of your bedroom and the fact you can change the look of the room very easily with a different material is such a good idea.
I tend to change the look of our rooms with paint. Easy to put on the walls and easy to change the colour to create a different look.... although you now have me thinking about using material to make a change.
Have a lovely day.
Best Wishes
Daphne

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Mary

4/17/2017 05:16:09 pm

Daphne I cannot paint right now, I have to do all the decorating on a budget. Although that would be a great option. But I always try to use what I have around me before running to the stores. Thanks for dropping by.

I love this Mary! The fabric is so beautiful (reminds me of Kaufman's floral designs). And I especially love that you can easily change the fabric when the mood strikes (and reuse the current fabric for another project). I'll be featuring your work at House of Hollingsworth Blog this Wednesday xx

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Mary

4/17/2017 06:19:43 pm

Thank you so much for the feature Kate. I have to say I am really surprised that this little project is such a hit. I guess easy and simple is what people enjoy the most.

Mary, I love it, all. I love the final product, I love your honesty about not painting a room that doesn't need it and I love your disclosure of blogger staging secrets! You would ever do something like that? ;)

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Mary

4/17/2017 06:28:35 pm

Kim ain't nobody got time for that! I try to paint rooms as little as possible. It seems like such a chore to me.

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Amber Harrop

4/11/2017 04:41:19 pm

I love how you used the fabric to warm thing up Mary and I adore your green bed

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Mary

4/17/2017 06:34:41 pm

Thank you Amber. To think all of this started with the wrong paint color! When I had ordered the paint I ordered green instead of white and I knew I had to use it somewhere so this was the result of an error on my part!

Hi Mary, just hopping back to let you know that I featured your room makeover at this week's Sew It Cook It Craft It Link Party.

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Welcome

I'm Mary and I recently moved to New York from beautiful Greece. I like to re-purpose and up-cycle anything that is old or looks like junk. Join me as we use our creativity to spark some life into old things. And do it frugally! You will also see lots of photography of my Greece and New York.

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